Most people have certain colors they gravitate towards when choosing their clothing, but did you know there’s usually a reason behind this predilection? The combination of the colors we wear, our skin tone and our hair color can make or break whether an outfit complements our overall look or causes us to look washed out. This is where color analysis comes in.
“A color analysis is a custom color palette or series of colors that enhance or soften your natural features,” says Macy Dunkelberg, owner and stylist at Mesa Boutique Salon in Tulsa, which offers this service to its clients. “We use a company called Rivers and Rose Styling Co. for the 12-season color analysis. We schedule these classes once a month.”
According to Dunkelberg, taking the time to get a professional color analysis is advantageous for several reasons. “Confidence, approachability and the surety of knowing what to wear” are just a few, she says. “It’s a game-changer for shopping, makeup and for me being a salon owner and hairstylist. I color my clients’ hair to match their season, knowing they are going to love it.”
The most common color analysis technique revolves around the seasons – meaning that you’ll end up either a spring, summer, fall or winter. Spring colors are warm and light; summer’s are cool and light; fall’s are warm and deep; and winter’s are cool and deep. If you are fair-skinned and blonde, odds are you are a summer, while if you have darker skin and/or brunette or black hair, you’ll more likely be in fall or winter. However, the experts know best – and can save you time, money and the grief of buying and returning items because you don’t like the way they look on you.
Aside from the colors you wear, people overlook the value of the proper hair color for their skin tone, as well.
“Hair is so important and something you ‘wear’ every day,” says Dunkelberg. “I have fallen in love with doing hair all over again using this as my tool and guide for my clients that have their colors done. My goal is for everyone to have it done and gain a new confidence in the surety it truly gives.”
If you want to experiment with color analysis at home, the internet has a wealth of information. For example, whowhatwear.com offers a few trials to try, including a filter with four color palettes to decide which filter you like best.
One simple trick the website suggests is to hold a swatch of orange and a swatch of fuchsia fabrics up to your face. If you love the way your skin tone and hair match orange, your colors should be warm. If fuchsia, on the other hand, is a must-have, opt for a cooler color palette. If it is difficult for you to choose a tone that works, delve a little deeper into the process or turn to an expert for help. It is up to you to decide how far to take your magic colors.
